Sylvie Harkins suffers injuries from manhole cover hidden by pile of leaves on Elthorne estate

Published: 26th November, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

GRANDMOTHER Sylvie Harkins’ face is so badly bruised she looks as if she has been in a fight.

But Sylvie, 64, a retired care worker,  received her injuries when she tripped on a manhole cover hidden under piles of leaves off St John’s Way on the Elthorne estate in Archway.

She was taken by ambulance to Whittington Hospital, where she was told she would have to wait two to four hours for treatment. 

“I gave up after half an hour,” she said. “I didn’t want to wait around because it would have meant me going home alone in the dark. I could find no one around in casualty so I left a note saying I was off home to bed.”

The following morning she visited the Homes for Islington (HfI) office to complain about the manhole cover. 

“They were decidedly unsympathetic about what happened,” she said. “They couldn’t even find a claim form so I could apply for compensation.”

Her injuries are only now beginning to heal after the fall on a Sunday night two weeks ago.  

Ms Harkins is being helped by Lib Dem councillor Greg Foxsmith, who has had complaints from people on the estate who have slipped on wet leaves.

Cllr Foxsmith said: “Pensioners are particularly at risk and Sylvie damaged the area around her eyes. She looked like she’d been in a prize fight. But another pensioner injured her hip after slipping.” 

Cllr Foxsmith believes leaves are not being swept regularly enough on the estate. 

A spokeswoman for HfI said: “Staff are committed to assisting Ms Harkins and regret that her personal commitments did not allow her sufficient time to wait for forms to be provided. Staff have arr­anged a further meeting to address her concerns and assist her in completing any claim.”